Follow through device capable of injecting material (liquid) through hole formed by shaped charge

ABSTRACT

1. In a rocket projectile comprising a rocket motor and a shaped charge, the combination of a detonator housing mechanism behind said shaped charge, a sealed liquid container behind said detonator housing and in front of said rocket motor, said detonator mechanism comprising a detonator charge, a firing pin positioned against said detonator charge and an inertia weight behind said firing pin so that on impact of the projectile, the inertia weight moves forward, thereby engaging the firing pin to set off the detonator and subsequently the shaped charge, whereupon the exploding detonator and shaped charge drives the inertia weight back into the liquid container, rupturing the same and displacing its contents forward through the opening made by the shaped charge.

United States Patent [191 Alper et a1.

[ Apr. 30, 1974 FOLLOW THROUGH DEVICE CAPABLE OF INJECTING MATERIAL (LIQUID) THROUGH HOLE FORMED BY SHAPED CHARGE [75] Inventors: Arthur Irving Alper, Edgewood;

Milton Cutler, Baltimore; Vincent J. Di Paolo, Elkton, all of Md.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC.

22 Filedr July 17, 1957 21 Appl. No; 672,525

[52] US. Cl 102/496, 102/56, 102/73 R [51] Int. Cl. F42b 15/10 [58] Field of Search 102/39, 66, 65.2, 90, 92,

102/56, 74, 78, 49, 73 R; 60/35.6 RS

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,617,359 11/1952 Van Horn et al 102/90 2,704,033 3/1955 Koeper et a1. 2,772,635 12/1956 Brandt 102/652 2,692,557 10/1954 Wales 102/78 Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examinerl-l. J. Tudor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward J. Kelly; Herbert Beil EXEMPLARY CLAIM 1. In a rocket projectile comprising a rocket motor and a shaped charge, the combination of a detonator housing mechanism behind said shaped charge, a sealed liquid container behind said detonator housing and in front of said rocket motor, said detonator mechanism comprising a detonator charge, a firing pin positioned against said detonator charge and an inertia weight behind said firing pin so that on impact of the projectile, the inertia weight moves forward, thereby engaging the firing pin to set off the detonator and subsequently the shaped charge, whereupon the exploding detonator and shaped charge drives the inertia weight back into the liquid container, rupturing the same and displacing its contents forward through the opening made by the shaped charge.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures mcmenmaomn 3.807306 INVENTORS Arthur I. Alper Milton Cutler Vincent J. D oola ATTORNEY FOLLOW THROUGH DEVICE CAPABLE OF INJECTING MATERIAL (LIQUID) THROUGH HOLE FORMED BY SHAPED CHARGE The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a toxic agent kit adapter for use with a high explosive anti-tank rocket. This is the type of rocket that is often designated as a shaped charge and which has the characteristic of being capable of burning a hole through relatively thick armor plate.

In the drawings FIG. I shows the complete rocket with the attached kit adapter shown as an enlargement in its center section.

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section at 2--2 of the kit adapter as well as a portion of the shaped charge.

FIG. 3 shows a transverse section at 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a transverse section of the agent container at 44 of FIG. 2.

More specifically, is the warhead or shaped charge with its conical aerodynamic cover 11. The detonator section of the adapter is shown at 12 and the agent container at 14. The rocket motor is shown at 16 and tail structure at 18.

In the original rocket, the warhead 10 together with detonator casing 12 was attached directly to the motor 16. The present adapter kit is so constructed that it fits between the detonator casing 12 and the motor 16 without modification of these parts. This enables a standard rocket to be modified in the field so that one standard round may be used in two ways with minimal logistical complications. The present embodiment is particularly adapted to a 3% inch high explosive antitank rocket but it is to be understood that the adapter is equally applicable to any size rocket wherein the principle and action of a shaped charge is involved.

The adapter is composed of the unit 14 positioned behind the detonator casing 12 and in front of motor 16. The detonator casing contains the detonator mechanism comprising the inertia plunger 26 with integral flanges 32 and concentric actuating and setback sleeves 34 and 38.

Guide pin 42 penetrates the outer setback sleeve 38 via slot 43 and extends into the inner actuating sleeve at depression 41. This effectively locks the inner actu ating sleeve in position and prevents the outer setback sleeve from turning.

Setback sleeve 38 is held in upwardly biased position by means of spring 36 backing upon a flange on the concentric actuating sleeve 34. The other end of setback sleeve 38 abuts on safety ejection pin 20 which is biased outward by spring 21 and is held in position against this spring tension by means of surrounding safety strap 22 and cover 29. When this safety ejection pin is in the in position with the safety strap in place, aperture 24 is misaligned with firing pin 28 and detonator 30 with the result that firing pin 28 cannot inadvertently set off the detonator. Likewise, when the safety ejection pin is in the in position, setback sleeve 38 bears upon it and the friction incident to this contact is sufficient to hold safety ejection pin 20 in place against the bias of spring 21. This permits the removal 2 of safety strap 22 without the safety ejection pin springing out and arming the rocket. In this condition, the

rocket can be slipped into the launcher tube after which the tube wall effectively holds the pin in place. When the rocket is fired, the inertia forces are sufficient to cause setback sleeve 38 to move back against the bias of spring 36 thereby releasing pressure on safety ejection pin 20. When the rocket is free of the barrel, pin 20 is free of restraint and moves out to align hole 24 with firing pin 28, thereby arming the rocket. Sleeve 38 simultaneously moves forward and spring loaded pin 39 snaps into aperture 40 thereby locking the ejection pin in the out position.

In order to review the functioning of this detonator unit, we shall assume that the missile has been fired and that ejection pin 20 is in the out or armed position.

Aperture 24 now coincides with firing pin 28 and igniter 30. When the missile strikes an object the conical cover collapses permitting the shaped charge to take effect. Simultaneously, inertia plunger 26 has moved forward shearing off flanges 32 and striking firing pin 28. The latter passes through opening 24 and strikes the detonator 30 thereby setting off the shaped charge. When this charge explodes, the increased pressure acts backwards on inertia plunger 26 forcing this rearward at high velocity. The plunger continues on through diaphragm 46 and into the agent container 48. The latter is ruptured in the process and the liquid agent therein is displaced by the volume of plunger 26 as well as by the kinetic energy of its impact, whereby the fluid agent passes forward through the aperture already made by the shaped charge. Thus the adapter serves to add an anti-personnel element to a standard anti-tank missile. Agent container 48 is tightly fitted within casing 14 and is fitted with filler plug 50 for charging with liquid toxic agent.

We claim:

1. In a rocket projectile comprising a rocket motor and a shaped charge, the combination of a detonator housing mechanism behind said shaped charge, a sealed liquid container behind said detonator housing and in front of said rocket motor, said detonator mechanism comprising a detonator charge, a firing pin positioned against said detonator charge and an inertia weight behind said firing pin so that on impact of the projectile, the inertia weight moves forward, thereby engaging the firing pin to set off the detonator and subsequently the shaped charge, whereupon the exploding detonator and shaped charge drives the inertia weight back into the liquid container, rupturing the same and displacing its contents forward through the opening made by the shaped charge.

2. In combination, a rocket projectile having in series, a shaped charge, a detonator housing behind said shaped charge, a sealed liquid container behind said detonator housing and a rocket motor behind said liquid container, said detonator housing containing a detonator charge, a firing pin positioned against said detonator charge and an inertia weight behind said firing pin so that on impact of the projectile, the inertia weight moves forward thereby engaging the firing pin to set off the detonator and subsequently the shaped charge, whereupon the exploding detonator and shaped charge drives the inertia weight back into the liquid container, rupturing the same and displacing its contents forward through the opening made by the shaped charge.

3. A combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said liquid container is filled with a toxic anti-personnel agent, and wherein a diaphragm is positioned between said detonator mechanism and said liquid container.

onator charge and the firing pin, said safety pin serving to hold the rocket projectile unarmed until launching whereupon the safety pin springs out to expose the detonator charge to the firing pin, thereby arming the pro- 4. A combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein 5 jectile.

a spring biased safety pin is interposed between the det- 

1. In a rocket projectile comprising a rocket motor and a shaped charge, the combination of a detonator housing mechanism behind said shaped charge, a sealed liquid container behind said detonator housing and in front of said rocket motor, said detonator mechanism comprising a detonator charge, a firing pin positioned against said detonator charge and an inertia weight behind said firing pin so that on impact of the projectile, the inertia weight moves forward, thereby engaging the firing pin to set off the detonator and subsequently the shaped charge, whereupon the exploding detonator and shaped charge drives the inertia weight back into the liquid container, rupturing the same and displacing its contents forward through the opening made by the shaped charge.
 2. In combination, a rocket projectile having in series, a shaped charge, a detonator housing behind said shaped charge, a sealed liquid container behind said detonator housing and a rocket motor behind said liquid container, said detonator housing containing a detonator charge, a firing pin positioned against said detonator charge and an inertia weight behind said firing pin so that on impact of the projectile, the inertia weight moves forward thereby engaging the firing pin to set off the detonator and subsequently the shaped charge, whereupon the exploding detonator and shaped charge drives the inertIa weight back into the liquid container, rupturing the same and displacing its contents forward through the opening made by the shaped charge.
 3. A combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said liquid container is filled with a toxic anti-personnel agent, and wherein a diaphragm is positioned between said detonator mechanism and said liquid container.
 4. A combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein a spring biased safety pin is interposed between the detonator charge and the firing pin, said safety pin serving to hold the rocket projectile unarmed until launching whereupon the safety pin springs out to expose the detonator charge to the firing pin, thereby arming the projectile. 